AUSA’s Institute of Land Warfare recently released a new publication – "Resetting Reserve Component Units: Taking Care of Soldiers and Families" (Torchbearer National Security Report, July 2011) – that examines the Army’s efforts to sustain the resilience of its National Guard and Army Reserve soldiers and families throughout the deployment cycle.The Army’s sustained operational tempo in the past decade has created a formidable challenge in the reset process of returning units, soldiers and families to the level of readiness necessary for future missions.Reserve component (RC) soldiers and...
Story and photo by Spc. William A. Joeckel, 2nd AAB, 1st Inf. Div., USD-C BAGHDAD—Soldiers with 1st “Vanguard” Battalion, 18th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Advise and Assist Brigade, 1st Infantry Division, United States Division – Center and medical officers from Camp Taji, Iraq, recently extended a helping hand to locals by donating medical supplies to a small Iraqi clinic.Soldiers with the 9th Iraqi Army Division played a large role in the delivery of the medical aid, from transporting the supplies to providing security alongside their American counterparts.“The importance of the combined medical...
Story and photo by Sgt. Kissta M. Feldner, 2nd Brigade, 82nd Airborne Division, Public Affairs AL ASAD, Iraq – A team of policemen arrived at the scene of an explosion, securing the area while others broke off to inspect the damage. The vehicle containing the car bomb still smoked from the recent explosion, and a man lay under the shade of a palm tree, bleeding and yelling for help in Arabic.Iraqi policemen from the Hit district conducted a crime scene investigation training exercise at Al Asad Air Base, on July 6, the culmination of two weeks of training with military police from 2nd Brigade...
Story and photo by Sgt. Kissta M. Feldner, 2nd Brigade, 82nd Airborne Division AL ASAD, Iraq – Clutching an ankle twice its normal size, Pfc. James Ladina writhed in pain on the white tile floor. An Iraqi medic donning a white lab coat rushed to his aid, quickly removing Ladina’s combat boot and performing a range of motion test. After assessing the damage, he applied a splint and a wrap, and recommended that Ladina take anti-inflammatory medication and apply ice to the area to decrease pain and swelling.Known as “Tom Cruise” by the members of his class, Ladina uses this theatrical style of...
Story by Captain Lee Baklarz, 1/325th AIR, 2/82 AAB, Adjutant RAMADI, Iraq – The medical platoon from 1st Battalion, 325th Airborne Infantry Regiment, hosted combat lifesaver training on Camp Ramadi, Iraq, June 27. The event was open to paratroopers to promote continued training on medical tasks that in the end will save lives. "Combat lifesaver training provides paratroopers the opportunity to train on skills that will ultimately save lives on the battlefield,” said 2nd Lt. Christopher Grill, medical platoon leader with the battalion. The 40-hour training course focuses on tactical combat...
Story and photo by Spc. Breeanna DuBuke, 29th MPAD, USD-C BAGHDAD – Secretary of Defense Leon A. Panetta met with Soldiers from United States Division-Center at Camp Victory, Iraq, July 11, to discuss the goals he has for the U.S. Armed Forces.Panetta’s visit to Camp Victory was part of his first trip as the new secretary of defense, where he toured Afghanistan and Iraq.“This is my first trip as secretary of defense,” said Panetta. “I wanted to take my first trip to the war zones. I wanted a chance to meet with the men and women who are putting their lives on the line for our country.”During...
Story and photo by Spc. William A. Joeckel, 2nd AAB, 1st Inf. Div., USD-C BAGHDAD—In the dark early morning hours, a dismounted patrol leaves a small joint security station in Baghdad, Iraq. Soldiers walk down shadowy alleyways and streets, scanning rooftops and windows, all the while watching their comrades’ backs. Two Apache helicopters orbit overhead to provide support for the partnered patrol of Iraqi and U.S. forces.This is a normal day for the Soldiers with Company B, 1st “Vanguard” Battalion, 18th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Advise and Assist Brigade, 1st Infantry Division, United States...
Story and photo by 1st Lt. Donald Gillilan, 2nd AAB, 1st Inf. Div., USD-C BAGHDAD—Soldiers with 1st “First Lightning” Battalion, 7th Field Artillery Regiment, 2nd Advise and Assist Brigade, 1st Infantry Division, United States Division – Center have been benefitting from strong support as they continue to reconstruct Joint Security Station Loyalty after an indirect fire attack that occurred June 6.Even on the day of the attack, vehicles with needed supplies began pouring into JSS Loyalty, and with them the helping hands of fellow Soldiers, Airmen and civilian contractors.As the rubble was...
Story by Staff Sgt. April Davis, 116th Cavalry Brigade - Garrison Command, USD-C BAGHDAD—Ohio Army National Guard Soldier, Staff Sgt. Kelly Ann Pels, 27, of Cincinnati, Ohio, had an unforgettable Independence Day. Not only was she serving in Baghdad in support of Operation New Dawn during the holiday this year, she also received a personal phone call from Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta.“I was honored to have the opportunity to talk with the Secretary of Defense,” Pels said.The Defense Secretary, who was sworn into office on Friday, marked the holiday by making phone calls to six service...
Story by 1st Lt. Douglas Bengal, 2nd AAB, 1st Inf. Div., USD-C BAGHDAD—“Time is life.”Nowhere is that succinct quote more self-evident than in trauma treatment. In a race against time when the stakes are life and death, medics with the Company C, 1st “Dragon” Battalion, 63rd Armor Regiment, 1st Infantry Division, United States Division – Center will be prepared as a result of the unrelenting training on the skills needed to successfully treat a patient. Recently, the focus has been the development of a highly efficient trauma team on Joint Security Station Muthana, Iraq, where Co. C operates.“...
After more than 60 years of working on behalf of soldiers and their families, no one knows the challenges of serving our country better than those working at AUSA.Our mission at AUSA Family Programs is to help all Army families remain strong and resilient, and enable them to better handle the many challenges of military life by providing information and resources for the spouses, children, parents, grandparents and other loved ones that comprise the military family.Studies show that many families and especially children are experiencing exceptional stress after 10 years of lengthy and repeated...
The Association of the United States Army and The Army Historical Foundation joined forces May 16 to co-host an event recognizing the generosity of major corporate and individual donors to the National Museum of the United States Army.Gen. Gordon R. Sullivan, USA Ret., AUSA president and museum advocate, emceed the event, which included an update on the museum project, a thank you to donors, and a keynote address by Sen. Daniel K. Inouye, D-Hawaii, the most senior member of the Senate and chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee."We want to say thank you. You can take great pride in the...
The Association of the United States Army’s Council of Trustees elected two new members and re-elected seven members to the council at its May 16 meeting at AUSA national headquarters. Terms begin on July 1.Lt. Gen. Roger C. Schultz, USA, Ret., program management director, Lockheed Martin Global, Training and Logistics, was elected to serve on the council as vice chairman for National Guard and reserve affairs.Schultz is a former chief of the Army National Guard.Sgt. Maj. of the Army Jack Tilley, USA, Ret., the 12th sergeant major of the Army, was elected to serve as vice chairman for...
With an eye on the Operation New Dawn drawdown that’s ongoing in Iraq, Army logisticians gave an overview of the opening stages of drawdown operations in Afghanistan.At the Association of the United States Army’s Sustainment Symposium and Exposition March 11 and 12 in Richmond, Va., several panels touched on how lessons learned from Operation New Dawn are being used as a guide in Afghanistan.Iraq and Afghanistan are similar in that they are land-locked, but they each have unique situations in regards to ground transport. In Iraq, it was easy to move equipment south via convoy to ships waiting...
With more than 1 million service members on active duty in the United States, the military services, and especially the Army, are running short of a critical commodity – training grounds.The problem, intensified by the winding down of two wars, is ratcheting up the interest of Army senior leaders in virtual solutions to real-world constraints."We have a lot of soldiers coming home to stations here in the United States, and we don’t have enough terrain in many of those places to train those soldiers out on live ranges," Col. Anthony D. Krogh told American Forces Press Service.Krogh is director...